JACKSON, Miss. — Republican Phil Bryant still has the most cash in the open race for Mississippi governor, but Democrat Johnny DuPree says he’s confident he can reach voters through personal appearances and online in the final four weeks of the campaign.
Candidates filed their latest campaign finance reports Monday.
Bryant, the first-term lieutenant governor, has spent nearly $4.2 million in the governor’s race this year, and has $928,670 cash on hand.
DuPree, the third-term mayor of Hattiesburg, has spent $610,830 and has $235,703 on hand.
“We don’t raise a lot of money in our campaigns. Never have,” DuPree said this past week in Jackson. “I like what we’re doing. I like going and talking to people. I like listening to people and their needs and the things that they’re interested in. That’s what gets buy-in.”
The Bryant campaign is having a fundraiser Thursday night in Jackson, with suggested donations of $1,000 to $25,000. Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell and Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour are scheduled to appear at the event. Barbour is limited to two terms and couldn’t run again this year. McDonnell is chairman of the Republican Governors Association.
“Phil Bryant’s campaign for governor continues to build momentum as we head toward the Nov. 8 election, thanks to the support of thousands of Mississippians,” campaign spokesman Dan Turner said in a written statement Monday.
Other finance reports show:
— In the lieutenant governor’s race, Republican Tate Reeves of Flowood has spent just over $3 million this year and has $451,586 cash on hand. Reeves is the current state treasurer and he defeated longtime state Sen. Billy Hewes of Gulfport in a hard-fought GOP primary for lieutenant governor. No Democrat is in the race. The Reform Party’s Tracella Lou O’Hara Hill of Hattiesburg has spent $200 and has no cash on hand.
— In the attorney general’s race, two-term Democratic incumbent Jim Hood of Brandon has spent $520,723 and has $848,316 in his campaign fund. His Republican challenger, former state Public Safety Commissioner Steve Simpson of Gulfport, has spent $196,749 and has $212,438 cash on hand.
— In the open race for treasurer, Republican Lynn Fitch of Madison, who’s on leave as director of the state Personnel Board, has spent $470,512 and is holding $154,389. Democrat Connie Moran, the second-term mayor of Ocean Springs, has spent $64,230 and has $2,300 on hand. The Reform Party’s Shawn O’Hara of Hattiesburg has spent $200 and has no cash on hand.
— In the open race for agriculture commissioner, Democrat Joel Gill, the mayor of Pickens, has raised $19,453 and has $17,168 on hand. The Republican nominee, state Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith of Brookhaven, spent $193,751 and has $63,379 in cash on hand. The Reform Party’s Cathy L. Toole of Biloxi has spent $200 and has no cash on hand.
— In the state auditor’s race, first-term Republican incumbent Stacey Pickering of Laurel has spent $130,951 and is holding $129,566. The Reform Party’s Ashley Norwood of Canton has spent $200 and has no cash on hand.
— In the secretary of state’s race, first-term incumbent Delbert Hosemann of Jackson has spent $557,473 and has $471,580 cash on hand. Hosemann defeated Gulfport City Councilman Ricky Dombrowski in the GOP primary and is unopposed in November.
— In the insurance commissioner’s race, first-term incumbent Mike Chaney of Vicksburg has spent $106,302 and has $402,824 cash on hand. A finance report for Democrat Louis Fondren of Pascagoula was not immediately available. The Reform Party’s Barbara Dale Washer of Hattiesburg has raised $200 and has no cash on hand.
via Bryant leads DuPree in Miss. gov race fundraising; Hood ahead of Simpson in atty gen’l contest | The Republic.
